Knitting needle



Feb. 13, 1951 E P FOSTER 2,541,580

KNITTING NEEDLE Filed July 5, 1946 Patented Feb. 13, V1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING NEEDLE Edson P. Foster, Manitowoc, Wis.

Application July 5, 1946, Serial No. 681,553

18 Claims. l

My present invention relates to an improvement in knitting needles.

A t present, except in certain special cases, in the knitting art knitting needles having Some form of hook are used for drawing yarn into loops in the knitting of fabrics. The major problem in the development of the hook needles resides in providing a hook that can be readily opened to engage the supply strand of yarn and then subsequently closed so that the engaged yarn can be drawn through a previously formed loop on the needle body with the latter then being cast 01T over the closed hook. Hook needles of the general type referred to are now in common usage and in the main are of two types one of which is known in the art as the spring beard needle and the other as the latch needle. The spring beard needle in its most common vform comprises a resilient hook member positioned at the pointed end of the needle and is normally disposed in open position to engage the new yarn. The hook member is formed so that it is adapted to be closed by mechanical means such as a presser to bias the pointed end of the beard into a recess or opening in the body of the needle at the appropriate time in the knitting cycle to close the hook. One of the main objections to this needle lies in the need of some mechanical means to close the hook which unduly complicates the design of the knitting apparatus. A further objection to this form of needle is that the spring beard or hook of the needle is required to withstand the tension of the previously knitted fabricv which is undesirable in view of the delicacy of the hook.

- The latch needle avoids the first noted disadvantage of the spring beard needle by providing a pivoted latch adjacent a hook formed at the pointed end of the needle body which latch `is adapted to be acted upon by the yarn to close the hook.A The latch needle thus eliminates the necessity of providing mechanical means in knitting apparatus for closing the hook. However, lthe latch needle while avoiding one of the main objections of the spring beard needle in turn has several disadvantages. quires long needle travel in the operation thereof and is not adaptable to the fine type of knit? ting as the spring beard needle. Further. the latch for opening and :closing 0f the hook necessarily is mounted in the needle as by a rivet which is of disadvantage in permitting side play vof the latch after slight wear, or causingof needle lstreaks by latches not freely pivotally mounted 4inthe Abody of the needle. Also the latch needle The latch needle re,-

A further object of my invention is to provide` a knitting needle comprising a spring hook member, and a needle body member having means such as a groove or opening in which the open hook of a hook member maybe disposed to close the same with the spring hook member being suitably secured to the body member and normally disposed by its own resiliency in open position with the spring hook member further being adapted to be moved to its closed position relative to the body member by the hook feeding yarn tension.

A further object is to provide a knitting needle in which the needle body member is formed in relation to the spring hook member to receive the newly formed loops of the hook immediately after the loops have been measured over the knock-overs so that the fabric tension is taken by the rigid body member and not by the delicate spring hook member.

In order to achieve the aforesaid objects, propose to'provide a knitting needle comprising a needle body member having any desirable form of butt end construction for mounting of the needle in knitting apparatus, and which needle adjacent its other or pointed end is provided with a hook closing opening such as a groove or the like into which a hook member of spring metal is adapted to be disposed for closing the hook. In a preferred embodiment of my invention the spring hook member. is suitably secured along a portion of its length opposite the hook end thereof to the needle body member'and is arranged so that the resiliency of the spring hook member normally positions it in opener yarn engaging position. `The spring hook member should be of suitable spring metal stock so that it can be easily drawn to a closed hook position by the yarn feed tension and the retracting movement of the needle. VThe dimension of the body member and spring hook member maybe as desired depending upon the gage and yarn for the intended use of the needle. The arrangement of the spring hook member and body member is Such that the upper pointed end of the needle body member is disposed in juxtaposition of theupper closed Vend of the spring hook when the latter is in closed-position to receive the new loop so as to relieve the spring hook against tension of the knitted fabric. In such an arrangement of a spring hook member and needle body member the spring hook member need only be of sufllcient strength to consistently engage and draw downwardly uniformly the particular yarn for which it is intended. The hook spring member functions only in connection with the new or feed yarn and once the new loops are formed they are taken by the needle body proper at the transfer point directly behind the closed hook.

The above and other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and utiliZ- ing knitting needles in accordance with the principles of my present invention, I shall describe in v'connection with the accompanying drawings certainv preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings:

" vFigure 1 is an enlarged side elevational view fofa knitting needle constructed in accordance larged scale the construction and arrangements y vof the upper or pointed end of the needle body member and the spring hook member of the needle;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the upper end of the knitting needle of Figure v1 but showing the spring hook member in its closed position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevational view Aof the upper end of the knitting needle of Figuros 1 and 2: and

Figure 4 is a view of the upper end portion of Ia modified form of knitting needle constructed vin accordance with my invention with the upper end of the needle body portion being shown in sectionand the cooperating spring hook member v beine shown in side elevation.

Referring now to Figures 1 through 3 the knittiner needle 5. therein shown. comprises a needle body'member 6 and a spring hook member 'I with the body member E being formed with a butt portion B and at its other or opposite end with a pointed end portion 9. The upper pointed end vportion 9 of the body member S is provided with a lengthwise extendinfy slot or groove III formed bv the spaced forwardly extending ange portionsA l2-I2 at tbe upper end of the needle body. The forward edges of tbe flange portions are suitably shaped to facilitate the movement of the yarns loops therealong.

The spring hook member 1 is formed of any suitable spring metal andv is provided with a hook portion I4 with the opposite end of the spring hook member 1 being suitably secured to the body member adjacent the lower end of the groove III as by welding as indicated at I5. The spring hook vmember 'I as shown in Figure 1 is yarranged and assembled with the body member E so that due lto its own inherent resiliency the hook portion hook member I4. Upon continued downward or retracting movement of the needle the newly formed loop I6 is drawn through the previously formed loop I'I on the needle body and the loop I'i is cast oi' the upper pointed end of the needle body with the loop I6 then occupying the former position of the loop i? as shown in Figure 1. It will be observed that when the spring hook member M is disposed in fully closed position that the upper pointed end of the needle body member is in juxtaposition immediately therebehind so that the newly formed loop is caused to be transferred to the needle body member with the latter thus being effective to take the tension of the knitted fabric. In this manner the delicate spring hook member 'I is not required to be able to withstand the fabric tension and the relatively stronger and heavier body member serves this purpose.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 the uppar end of the needle body member 2B adjacent its pointed end is provided with an opening`2'2 extendingfrom the front face of the knitting needle to the rear face thereof andA with the spring hook member 23 being secured at its end 25 opposite the hook portion 25 of the spring hook member 23l withina groove extending lengthwise of the needle body member rearwardly thereof and below the opening 22 as by spot welding. In Figure 4 the spring hook member 23 is shown in hook closed position, but it will be understood that the spring hook member 23 by its own inherent resiliency is normally biased outwardly of opening 22 and forwardly of the needle body member 20. In this manner the hook portion of spring hook member 23 normally assumes a position similar to that of the hook member of Figure 1 in position to engage the feed yarn and is caused to be drawn to the position shown in Figure 4 in the same manner as the spring hook member 'I' of the rst embodiment of my invention and as shown in Figure 2.

It will thus be observed that in the two forms of knitting needles herein disclosed that the hook member may either be secured adjacent the for'- ward edge of the needle or the rearward edge thereof with the groove or opening in the body member of the knitting needle being suitably formed to efect closing of the hook by the feed yarn tension.

In the embodiments of my invention above described it will be observed that the hook portions of the spring hook members open generally in a direction toward the butt ends of the needle bodies, and further that the ends of the hook spring members opposite the hook portions are secured to the needle body members inwardly of the ends of the latter opposite the butt ends or pointed ends of the body members. By reason of this arrangement the spring hook members eX or have a point of pivotal movement disposed inwardly of the pointed ends of the needle bodies or intermediate the opposite ends of the body members providing for positioning of the hook portions inwardly and outwardly of the groove or opening in the needle bodies in 'closed hook and open hook position, respectively. 'ff

Inthe above description I have referred tothe needle bodies as having either a groove'or openingr into which the hook portions of the springr hook members are disposed in hook closed posi"- tion. It is believed that it will be obvious that the needle bodies may be provided with any suit;- able or desired form of hook-closing opening and Athe latter .expression is intendedto -cover the two forms herein shown and other types `of slots, -recesses, or the like serving an equivalent purpose.

While I have shown what I consider to be the preferred embodiments of my invention it `will be understood that various modifications and rearrangements may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim.:

l. A knitting needle comprising a body member having a main shank portion and a spring hook member, said spring hook member having a hook portion at one end thereof and being secured `along part of its remaining portion to said shank portion of said body member, intermediate the ends thereof; said hook member being movable relative `to Vsaid body member to a position in v'which said hook portion is closed by `said body member.

2. A vknitting needle comprising a body member having a hook closing opening therein, and a hook member of spring metal having a hook portion at one end thereof and being iixed at its other end to said body member intermediate the ends of the latter for relative movement with respect thereto for closing and opening said hook portion by positioning of the same inwardly and outwardly, respectively, of said hook closing opening of said body member.

I3. A 'knitting needle comprising a body member formed at one end with a butt mounting portion and at lits other end with a hook ycloosing opening, fand a spring hook member having a hook portion at one end thereof and iixed at its other end to said body member intermediate the ends thereof with the hook portion thereof opening `generally in a direction toward said butt mounting portion of said body member, said hook member being movable relative to said body member to close and open the hook portion thereof by positioning of the same inwardly and outwardly of said hook closing opening in said body member.

4. A knitting needle comprising a body member formed at one end with a butt mounting portion and .at its other end with a hook closing opening. and a hook member of spring metal having a hook portion at one end thereof and xed at its other end to said body member inwardly of said other end of the latter with the hook portion thereof opening generally in the direction of said butt mounting portion of said body member, said hook member being movable relative to said body member to position the hook portion thereof inwardly and outwardly of said hook closing opening to close and open the same, and said hook member being normally disposed by its own resiliency with said hook portion in open position to engage the yarn to be knit and to be drawn inwardly of said hook closing opening by the tension of the yarn to closed position.

5. A knitting needle comprising a body member formed at one end with a butt mounting portion and at its other end with a yarn loop receiving portion, said body member having a hook closing opening adjacent said loop receiving portion, and a spring hook member having a hook portion at one end thereof and iixed at its other end to said body member inwardly of said other end of the latter with said hook portion opening toward said butt mounting portion, said hook member being movable relative to saidrbody member to position the same inwardly and outwardly of said hook closing opening to close and open the same, said hook member being normally disposed by its own resiliency with said hook portion in open position Lto` engage 'the yarn to be knit and to be drawn into said hook closing opening by the tension of the yarn to closed position, .and said hook member being .mounted on said body memberl so that when said hook portion is in closed position the upper vend thereof is disposed in juXta-position of the end of said yarn loop receiving por,- tion of said body .member to receive the loop .from said hook member. 1

6. A knitting needle comprising a body member having a hook closing opening therein, and .a spring hook member connected at one end to said body member intermediate the ends of the latter., said spring hook member having a free Yend por-jtion opposite its connected end movable relative to said body member about a point of pivotal movement intermediate the vends of lsaid body member yfol` closing and opening the hook mem ber by positioning of the latter inwardly and outwardly .of the hook closing opening in said body member.

7. A knitting needle comprising a body member having a hook closing opening therein, and. a spring hook member connected at one end to said body member intermediate the ends of the latter, said spring hook member having a hook portion opposite its connected end normally biased to project outwardly of said opening in said body meme ber for engaging yarn to be knit and movable relative to said body member about a point of pivotal movement intermediate the ends of vsaid body member, said hook portion being adapted to be closed by drawing of said spring hook member inwardly of said hook closing opening of said body member by tensioned yarn.

8. A knitting needle comprising a body member having a hook closing opening therein, and a spring hook member connected at one end to said body member intermediate the ends of the latter, said spring hook member having a hook portion opposite its connected end normally biased to pro ject outwardly of said opening in said body member for engaging yarn to be knit and movable relative to said body member about a point of pivotal movement intermediate the-ends of said body member, said hook portion being adapted to be closed by drawing of said spring hook member inwardly of said hook closing opening of said body member by tensioned yarn, and said body member having a portion disposed in position to receive the yarn from said hook portion in 'the closed position of the latter. .v

9. A knitting needle comprising a body member` having a pointed end portion, said body member having'a hook closing opening therein adjacent said pointed end portion, and a spring hook member xed adjacent one end thereof to said body member inwardly of said pointed end portion and having a hook portion normally projecting outwardly of said hook closing opening in said body member, said spring hook member being adapted to be positioned inwardly of said hook closing opening in said body member to close said hook portion.

10. A knitting needle comprising a body member formed at one end with a butt portion and at the other end with a pointed portion, said body member having a hook closing opening adjacent said pointed end portion, and a spring hook member having a hook portion at one end thereof and fixed at its other end to said body member with said hook portion normally extending outwardly of said hook closing opening in said body member and opening toward said butt portion of the latter, said spring hook member being adapted to be positioned inwardly of said hook'closing open,- ing to dispose the open e-nd of said hook portion therein to close the latter. Y

11. A knitting needle comprising a body member formed at one end with a butt portion and having a groove extending lengthwise of said body member in the front thereof at its other end, and a spring hook member having a hook portion at one end and xed at its other end to the front of said body member inwardly of said other end of the latter with the hook portion opening generally toward said one end of said body member, said spring hook member being adapted to be positioned inwardly of said groove to dispose the open end of said hook portion therein to close the latter.

12. A knitting needle comprising a body member formed at one end with a butt portion and -having an opening at its other end extending from the front to the rear thereof, and a spring hook member having a hook portion at one end and xed at its other end at the rear of said body member inwardly of said other end of the latter and projecting through the opening in said body member with the hook portion opening generally toward the butt end of said body member, said spring lhook member being adapted to be positioned inwardly of said opening to dispose the open end of said hook portion therein to close the latter.

13. A knitting needle comprising a body member having a butt end and a hook closing end, and a spring hook member having a hook portion at one end thereof and being secured 'adjacent its other end to, and intermediate the butt and hook closing ends of said body member below said hook closing end, said hook member being normally disposed with said hook portion in open position to engage yarn to be knit, and said hook member being movable by tension of the yarn engaged by said hook portion to dispose the latter in a position in which it is closed by said body member.

14. A knitting needle comprising a body memlber having a hook closing opening at oneend thereof, and a hook member, said hook member having a hook portion at one end thereof and being mounted at its other end to the body member intermediate the hook closing opening and the other end of said body member, said hook member being movable relative to said body member to a position in which said hook portion is disposed within said hook closing opening for vclosing said hook portion.

I 15. A knitting needle comprising a body member having one end thereof pointed, and a spring hook member having a hook portion at one end thereof, said hook member being mounted to said body member below said pointed end whereby said hook portion thereof will be in substantial mating alignment with said pointed end when said hook is resiliently moved into adjacent rela;- tion with said pointed end. Y -f 16. A knitting needle comprising a body member characterized by a butt end and a hook closing opening at its opposite end, and a hook member having a hook portion at one end, said hook member being mounted to said body between said butt end and hook closing opening thereof whereby said hook portion is adapted for registering reception in said opening. l.

17. A knitting needle comprising a rigid bod-y member having one pointed end with a hook closing opening formed therein, and a resilient hook member having one hooked end, said hook member being anchored to said body member at a point therealong below said pointed end and in such a manner that said hooked end thereof is capable of mating alignment with said pointed end and adapted for registering hook closing reception by said hook closing opening. y 18. A knitting needle comprising a body member characterized by an inwardly extending hook closing opening formed adjacent one end thereof, and a resilient hook member distinguished by a hook portion forming one end thereof, said hook member being mounted to said body memjber below said opening therein with said hook portion normally projecting outwardly of said body member, and said hook member being adapted to be resiliently biased to move the `open side of said hook portion into said opening for effecting closing of said hook. g EDSON P. FOSTER;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 191,709 Peberdy June 5, 1877 206,354 Peberdy July 23, 1878 287,175 Salisbury Oct. 23, 1883 2,312,903 Hirt et al Mar. 2, 1943 2,419,856 Schwartz Apr. 29, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain Dee. 24, 19255 

